Vardavar!

On one Sunday in July every year Armenia has a water day. It is actually called Varda Var....which has some meaning that I am not actually fully clear on but I explained it some in last years e-mail about Vardavar. So everyone just waters everyone. Like they carry around water buckets, bottles, guns, and squirters and just wet you. IT IS THE BEST. Sister K and I may or may not have carried around water guns the whole day. We had them in our bags until there was a need of course. Anyway.....we got so wet. Like I think I got more wet than if I had jumped in a pool. Before church we didn't get it too bad but when we were walking out the youth were ready with sacrament cups to throw them at us. LITTLE DID THEY KNOW we had something up our sleeve-in our bag. haha. We got them so good. hahahaha. But then they got us with cups. Anyways. it was great. So I thought that was it....HAHA. No. So we are walking away from the church and this guy is watering the floor (don't ask) this little kid takes the hose and just starts spraying us. OKAY! Things like that happened all the way home. People from their cars would spray us with water...people up in their balcony's dropped buckets on us...also all the boys just dumped bucket after bucket on us while walking home. Honestly it was probably one of the most favorite things of my life. I guess we were setting our selves up for it because we had guns. It was probably a really funny sight to see these American girls walking around drenched holding guns. They definitely used that to an advantage. OH. Also We made it a goal to spray all the ones who were smoking. We asked around before if it was allowed, like we asked smokers and they said it would be funny. So we did. They got mad. We got excited. Also we saved them from dying that much more. Well we got soaked. I thinked I changed twice yesterday. So there is that. Also we have a balcony and just had a few buckets ready to drop on people. We got like 10. It was fab. Can we bring this to America?

V: We weren't able to meet with her at all last week. That was really rough. But she still reads every day and prays morning and night. She's perfect. I say that every week. But she really is.

Miracle Goals: We made some high goals together last week. We were a little nervous but wanted to really push ourselves. We did not make all of our goals but we met most of them and surpassed a few of them. I was sitting in sacrament, looking around at all our investigators that braved the water day to come to church and I started to cry. The Lord gave me a little pick-me-up. He loves me.

Also, our taxi driver bought us flowers and had ABBA playing in his car so we had a party!

I love you all!

ոնց եք դիմանում այս շոգին:‏

This week was such a good week!
We had Mission leadership council. I was really nervous. But it went so well that the 6 hours seemed to fly by. We talked a lot about how we can improve as a mission and overall I really feel like I was able to get a lot of guidance and inspiration that I was searching for.

We were walking home and we saw a cute little family out side our building. We starting talking in a cute little baby voice to the little boy saying how cute he was. But then he just started talking like crazy! being so sassy! He spoke like a sassy 10 year old not a 2 year old! When he was apparently done talking with us he just looked at us and said, "De, gnatseq tun." Translated: "Well, go home."

We've been eating the mac n' cheese that you sent me. HEAVEN

V is still amazing. She called us on Saturday to remind us that we were all fasting together starting at 6 Saturday night until 6 Sunday night.
She is in the middle of 2nd Nephi.
Her brother just left for the army and she wont see him for 2 years. He was assigned to the most dangerous place available. We called her to see how she felt. Her voice was shaky as she said, "It's according to God's will, right?"
Something is still holding her back from being baptized. She's 100 percent ready. She just doesn't believe she's ready. She said that she would for sure be baptized, just not until a week before I leave. Please pray for her and for us.

Also, Happy 4th!!!!!
Love, Sister Kuyks

Mac and cheese from home!

Transfers!!

Transfers!!
by bullet points

-I'm staying in Center.

-I have an awesome new companion that I've wanted to serve with my entire mission.

-I've been called as a Sister Training Leader.

-40 degrees Celsius and up. waaaa

-Investigator V is still the most amazing investigator in the entire world. We asked her to be baptized again and she said she was just scared that her family wouldn't allow it. Her mom walked in (her mom listens to all the lessons, but pretends that she doesn't) and we asked her how she felt about her daughter getting baptized. She started crying. After about a minute she said she wanted her daughter to be baptized. Then V started to cry. They're perfect. She's still scared though for some reason. She said that she wants to finish reading the BOM before she gets baptized. We told her that that was great but that it wasn't necessary for her to read the entire thing to know that it was true. She promised that she would be baptized before I leave. Her brother is just as amazing as she is but he leaves for the army in 4 days. We're heartbroken. God be with him.

-Today is my companion's birthday. She's the cutest. She's Armenian. She's actually American but her dad is Armenian. What a blessing for her to be called here to this mission. I've already learned so much from her.

We all know it so I'll just say it. I have less than 3 months left. I'm not quite sure how I feel about it. I feel a little bit of panic. Sometimes when I remember that I only have 3 months left I start to feel really anxious. But then when I don't think about it I feel really good. So I usually don't think about it. It's such a blessing to me that I have a companion that likes to work hard with me. It makes things so much more fun and so much easier. These last 3 months are about to be the best so far.

I love that I am here in Armenia. I love these people so much that I just want to shake them when they reject this amazing message. I love all of their quirky Armenian things. I love that they water their sidewalks. I love that they always kiss your cheek. I love that there is no personal space here. I love I love I love. So many things here are so different that you can't even imagine. It's like a different country or something... ;) But really, I have started to forget what the culture is in the US. I will not be normal when I get back.

I love you and I love these people.
Love, Mads

A way cool view of Yerevan from a gyugh we went to.

last week before transfers

This week is transfers. I can't believe that the transfer is gone! Sister B and I feel a little bit jipped!! It's been one of the funnest transfers and it just flew right by! But despite that I'm excited for transfers.

We took the opportunity to fast yesterday and I made a list of things to improve on during this next transfer. I really felt the Lord's spirit and his guidance as I set new goals and plans to be a better missionary.

Investigators: V is FANTASTIC!! I don't know if she could get any more perfect. She is almost to 2 Nephi and wanted to bear her testimony at the Elders Baptism on Sat! I love her with all my heart. We found out her brother is leaving before he can be baptized which is sad but I'm grateful to have been able to plant a seed of faith in his heart. He is a good kid. I know the Lord will take care of him and help him come back in contact with the church after 2yrs.

I learned an important lesson this week -- Even "after all we can do", it is still "by grace that we are saved" (2 Nephi 25:23). So, if it's all about grace, why do we work hard? "If ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants" (Mosiah 2:21). So why do we bother to give our all?

As President Uchtdorf taught us in General Conference, it is out of a love for God! We give our all to serve the Lord because we love him, and we are eternally grateful for His Infinite Atonement! It is our Redeemer that makes us able to "stand blameless before God at the last day".

I love my Savior. And it's my testimony that keeps me going. I know that miracles come as a result of faith, and we can have more perfect faith as we more fully understand our Savior and His will.

Love,
Sister Kuykendall

gratitude and Sister Kuykendall's birthday!

Hey everybody!!

We did some fun service this week and had some good meetings with investigators.

​V- is doing so well! she has so many great sincere questions!! I love her so much. We were talking about the purpose of the priesthood this week and we noticed that eyes were full of tears. We asked her about how she was feeling/thinking. She said she couldn't explain it .. it was good ...then she asked if she was allowed to have a blessing. The Spirit was real folks.
She is the key for the rest of her family too. She was reading her BOM the other day and her brother walked in and asked her what she was reading. She explained all about the BOM and pretty much taught him a First lesson. He asked if he could have one to take with him to the Banak (army). Fingers crossed that he will progress before he leaves.

I think I read 3 Nephi 13:25-33 at least 10 times this week.

Gratitude is so powerful... just saying.

Whenever we feel like nothing is going right, that we aren't seeing the results of our efforts, as we make the effort to recognize blessings and enthusiastically express our gratitude for those tender mercies, we will have greater love for our Savior and our Father in Heaven, and we will have greater faith in their love for us. We will know with a surety that God is by our side, and it is that knowledge, testimony, and faith that will make us "mighty even unto the power of deliverance".

I have marveled this week at the tender mercies of the Lord. It seems that everywhere I turn, as I look, I see the Lord's hand in my life and in the lives of those around me. Every time I recognize a tender mercy, my love and appreciation for the Lord are strengthened, and I know with greater assurance how much he loves me and each of us, despite bummy weeks, and mean people :)

Love you!
-Sister K

Only selfies this week. Sorry

O

Cherry picking

Dear family,

So lately we've been trying to pick up one of our member's sister L as an investigator. She's super sassy but really nice. She's one of the cool kids and is a little TOO cool for school :). We have had progress though. She actually really likes us coming over to play games and we always sneak in a little lesson. She's a really nice girl and I know she'll come around eventually. Just maybe not this transfer.
V is one of our investigators. She is 16 years old but she is so mature and LOVES learning from us. She has so many questions! It's really great! She called us the other day and asked us if we would bring another BOM next time we came because her brother wants one. I guess he walked in on her reading it and asked her about it. She was a good little missionary and told him about it and he asked if he could have one. We're so stoked!! The sad part is that he leaves for the army soon. :( Their mom and younger sister also ask really good questions. We always invite the whole family to listen and they're all really great.

Last night we were not sure what to do. Our last appointment for the night had fallen through but we didn't want to just walk around. We said a little prayer to know where the Lord needed us to go. We then found out at church from one of our members that one of our former investigators's sons had just committed suicide the previous day. She really wanted us to come visit her so we arranged to go over with our member that night to pay our condolences. We were a bit nervous because it's a little bit of a fragile situation and we didn't want to mess anything up. We got to her house and walked into the living room and found 12 women all wearing black from ages 30-80. When we walked in, the 5 women that already knew us from previous visits immediately said, "These are those darling girls we were telling you about! They're from America. They speak Armenian better than we do! Ask them questions!" So Sister B and I found ourselves on different sides of the room teaching multiple groups of ladies about why we were here. They had so many questions about where their relative would go because he committed suicide. They asked about the after life and what our views were on it. We gave them our number and told them where our church was. They couldn't stop talking about how amazing and courageous and mature we were as we were leaving. We left with lipstick all over our cheeks. We felt good leaving a group of 12 mourning women with a little bit more hope in their hearts. We are just praying that they will find peace and comfort.

Well this church is true. As soon as I made that realization my life got 100 times better. I don't think it's a coincidence. If you don't know for yourself that this is the way to happiness, give it a try. There is a saying in Armenia that translated says this,"a try doesn't bring a trial." I love this gospel so much. I love my Savior, my Heavenly Father and my family. I have seen the difference that the gospel makes in lives and I don't know why anyone WOULDN'T just try it. Just try and see if it could be true. Because I KNOW it is and I've never been happier.

I love you!!!
-Sister Kuykendall

Cherry Picking 

Awesome meeting with Seventy/Area presidency

Alma 37:6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.... Love this one. We tend to forget who is in charge.

I loved the meeting with Elder Halstrom and Elder Bennett from the Seventy/Area presidency!! I had written down several questions that I had and planned to ask about them -- BUT others beat me to the draw. The cool thing is that the questions that were asked and the discussions that we had answered the questions I wrote down. I know that we were guided by the Spirit and blessed with revelation.

One of my favorite quotes was -- The Savior is pleased, don't choose discouragement. The world makes us expect immediate feedback but that is NOT the Lords way. Evaluate always but keep an Eternal perspective -- Hope.

I loved Elder Halstrom's advice too -- The mission is the time to establish our relationship with Heavenly Father, our foundation and figure out who we are -- to the CORE. This should not however be the spiritual peak of our lives. We should continue in the habits we create here as much as possible so that it continues to effect us forever.

-- The Lord truly blessed us this week -- Our finding pool is overflowing we picked up 4 new investigators and we are getting more support from our members (LA's too)!! Because we changed our hearts and made a conscious decisions to choose faith. It's the Key!! We trusted in His promises and He guided us to where we needed to be.


I realized that what Sister Halstrom said is true...."My heart was there first and that made it easier for the rest of me ..." This week I was filled with extra love for my mission. I got to spend time with all the people I love (members & missionaries) and learn by the spirit. Stake Conference was Great!!


Sorry this is kind of all over the place ... Have a great week!
Love, SIster Kuyk

Cascades

Huge Moth